In Marlboro, a domestic disturbance call turned deadly

A 22-year-old man who allegedly was wielding a knife in his girlfriend’s house when he was shot and killed by a police officer Monday night tried to commit suicide last month by walking into traffic.

Bryce Coutinho, 22, was shot and killed by police when they responded to a domestic disturbance at 52 Meadow Brook Road just before 8 p.m., according to the Middlesex district attorney’s office. The caller asked for police assistance in getting Mr. Coutinho to leave. Fourteen minutes after the arrival of police, a call was made to the Fire Department for medical assistance. Mr. Coutinho was pronounced dead at the scene.

The fatal shooting remains under investigation by the district attorney. The name of the officer involved has not been released.

The home is owned by Kevin Mulkern and Lynn Hogan, according to city records. Mr. Coutinho had been living at the house with Ms. Hogan’s daughter, Rebecca Hogan, who had been dating Mr. Coutinho the past couple of months. Ms. Hogan declined to comment yesterday afternoon.

Police Chief Mark Leonard said the officer has been placed on leave during the investigation.

“We’re concerned about the officer and we’re concerned about the situation. It’s a tragic situation,” Chief Leonard said. He and other officers at the police station said they cannot remember another fatal shooting.

Mr. Coutinho worked at Auto Zone, next door to CVS on Main Street, the past two months. He delivered parts for commercial accounts.

Timal Patel, parts sales manager, said store personnel learned of Mr. Coutinho’s death when his girlfriend came by the store about 4 p.m. yesterday.

“It was not a good feeling,” Mr. Patel said. “He seemed to enjoy his work. I didn’t know him personally, but he was a pretty nice kid.”

On Nov. 2, Mr. Coutinho was arraigned in Marlboro District Court after being arrested on a warrant on charges of assault and battery of Rebecca Hogan. The judge continued the case to Dec. 10 for a pretrial hearing. Mr. Coutinho was ordered to remain alcohol- and drug-free and to submit to random screens. He was also directed to continue with therapy, not abuse Ms. Hogan and continue attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings three times a week.

The alleged assault and battery happened Oct. 3. Police learned of the incident when they subsequently responded to a collision involving a pedestrian, who turned out to be Mr. Coutinho, and a motor vehicle on Hosmer Street, not far from Meadow Brook Road.

When they arrived Ms. Hogan was there. She told police she had been in a relationship with Mr. Coutinho for a month and he had assaulted her at her home while he was highly intoxicated.

She told police an argument had ensued over a bottle of vodka that was in the home. Mr. Coutinho also allegedly told his girlfriend that he was a heroin user.

When the couple went upstairs to Ms. Hogan’s bedroom, Mr. Coutinho, who had become enraged, grabbed his girlfriend violently on both arms, she told police.

“He placed one knee on her thighs and then strangled her with both hands. She began to scream and her family ran in her room,” Patrolman Michael Giaquinto wrote in his report.

“Bryce then left the house on foot. He was subsequently struck by a motor vehicle in a self-admitted attempt to commit suicide,” the report continued. “Rebecca’s family is in fear that he may return to their house.”

Mr. Coutinho was taken to UMass Marlboro Hospital, where he was treated for his injuries.

James and Ellen Driscoll, who live at 19 Alan Road, a few yards from 52 Meadow Brook Road, said they came home Monday night to find police cruisers blocking most streets in the vicinity. They had to take a different route to get to their house. Mrs. Driscoll said she called the Police Department and was told an incident happened.

The couple said the neighborhood had changed during the 47 years they’ve lived there.

“We don’t really know them, but we always see someone out working in the yard,” Mrs. Driscoll said. “This is shocking. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a police car in the neighborhood.”